healing ways


SALT THERAPY: The Multi-Purpose Healer


by Joseph Cannizzaro, MD


and improving lung function while killing harmful bacteria and soothing the respiratory system. Tis decreases the inflammation in the lungs and opens the airways, increasing oxygen exchange. Tis 100% drug-free treatment is effective, has no side effects and may lessen the need for prescription antihistamines, inhalers and nasal sprays. In fact, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study in 2006 that found salt inhalation is an effective complementary treatment for cystic fibrosis.


Salt Therapy Improves Allergy I


t seems too simple to be true—salt as a therapy for myriad conditions such as asthma, allergies, colds,


eczema, flu and stress. Yet salt has been used therapeutically for thousands of years and appears in ancient texts including the Bible. Even Hippocrates, the father of Western medicine, used salt to treat his patients. Te first modern inquiry into salt


therapy came in the 1840’s when a Polish physician documented the low rate of respiratory illness in salt mine workers. He attributed their better health to the daily inhalation of salt particles in the mines. Because of his work, speleotherapy (salt cave therapy) became a form of treatment in Europe. Now, one can forego the spelunking because salt therapy can be administered in a controlled environment that simulates the natural, therapeutic microclimate of a salt cave. Salt therapy is performed in a


special spa-like room with salt-coated walls and floor, called a halochamber. Tis is why salt therapy is also called halotherapy. During a halotherapy session, pharmaceutical-grade salt is pulverized into microscopic particles and propelled into the room. Salt therapy involves lounging in this cozy room and passively breathing in the particles while listening to soothing music, reading or just relaxing in a zero-gravity chair. Te use of halotherapy has spread throughout Europe and Canada and is gaining popularity in the United States.


12 Central Florida www.NACFL.com Why Is Salt Therapy Healing


for So Many Conditions? Did you know your immune system controls your body’s defenses against both infections and inflammatory diseases? We run into trouble when inflammation becomes “runaway”— this is when chronic inflammatory conditions begin. Tese conditions include asthma, allergies, chronic ear infections, sinusitis and other chronic infections. All infections are inflammatory to the body. Salt therapy helps support the immune system on two levels; it is physically anti-inflammatory and is also calming to the central nervous system. Salt particles have negatively charged


ions which enhance our overall health. Tey are hypertonic, which means they pull fluid and toxins out of the cells. Te salt particles enter the lungs and nasal passages, accelerating mucus clearance


All infections are


inflammatory to the body. Salt therapy helps support the immune system on two levels; it is physically anti-inflammatory and is also calming to the central nervous system.


and Asthma Symptoms Te mucus-clearing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial effects of salt therapy have been shown to relieve symptoms of allergies and asthma. Salt therapy neutralizes pollutants like smoke, dander, dust, pollen and other allergens present in the airways. Open airways calm breathing and reduce wheezing and coughing, making life more comfortable and asthma more manageable. Tis also prevents overuse of inhalers, a practice that can cause new bronchospasms and increase asthma severity. Cleansing the airways and decreasing inflammation helps medications work more effectively


and reduces the need for them. Salt therapy is completely safe,


inexpensive and helps prevent common comorbid conditions such as ear and sinus infections. It helps prevent asthma attacks, especially if a therapy session is undertaken during peak allergy season and aſter exposure to allergens (like a visit to a relative who smokes).


Salt Therapy Heals Eczema


Beyond Skin Deep For those suffering from eczema, salt therapy works by activating multiple physiological processes in the body. On the outside of the body, the salt particles kill bacteria and fungi, reduce inflammation on the skin, and improve circulation on the skin surface. Salt calms the itchy rash and heals cracks, which restores the skin’s barrier against infections and allergens.


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